Sometimes, health doesn’t have to cost so much

Fighting a stomach bug? Stay home and drink Gatorade, or make your own rehydration solution using 1 teaspoon of salt, 8 teaspoons of sugar, 5 cups of water and an optional 1/2 cup of fruit juice.

Want a cheap way to banish those acne blemishes? Use an over-the-counter product with benzoyl peroxide, a tried-and-true, inexpensive acne treatment.

Need a wheelchair? Check out your local Goodwill or Salvation Army stores.

These are just a few of the no-nonsense, consumer-friendly tips offered by family medicine specialist Dr. Cynthia Koelker in her new self-published book, “101 Ways to Save Money on Healthcare.”

The book is full of such cost-saving things as how to get rid of warts and when maladies can be safely — and cheaply — treated at home.

Tip No. 43, for instance, suggests readers not lose money seeing a doctor every time they lose their voice.

The publication also features a list of trustworthy Web sites for health information, as well as sites offering coupons and discounts for prescription and over-the-counter medicines.

McClatchy-Tribune Information Services